Indoor Plants that are Safe for your Dogs

It’s coming to that time of the year again for Northern Hemisphere pets, that the weather gets colder and they spend more time indoors. Couple that up with a healthy curiosity and maybe a sprinkle of boredom, and your dog might be tempted to nibble on the odd house plant. This may not be good for the health, and the alst thing you want is a rushed trip to the vet in amongst all the festive preparations you are no doubt trying to get organised.

However, for us people, there are great benefits to having houe plants that help filter the air and keep our oxygen levels good! So what’s the answer?

Rather than listing all the plants that migt be toxic to dogs, let’s take a look at what’s safe instead – me being a glass-half-full kind of person. I’ve also placed photos next to these plants, and the scientific name as well, to help you recognize the ones I’m referring to.

Of course some pets aren’t interested in house plants at all, so great, but if you’re not sure either choose from this list below or make sure they are inaccessible.

One additional benefit…these are all non-toxic for cats too, so if you’re a multi-pet family even better. You can rest easy knowing your cats are safe too.

So into the nitty gritty, and here are 10 indoor plants non-toxic for your dogs (and cats!):

1. Tillandsia

Also referred to as an air plants, these are brilliant for modern areas in the home. An extra bonus is they need minimal care. if you’re like me and not hugely green-fingered this is a big plus! And the list goes on, as they don’t even need soil. Usually very petite in stature, they can fit just about anywhere and you can get pretty imaginative – think on a piece of driftwood, in a seashell, or even a hanging glass vessel. If your dog does nibble, then be careful where you place these. Because they are so small it doesn’t take much to do significant damage to the plant, and they will come off worse to a dogs chewing jaws.

2. Boston fern (Nephrolepis).

Many true ferns are not poisonous to dogs, including this classic Boston fern. Ferns are lush and usually quite easy to look after – they can also be good in places that don’t have a whole lot of light, like bathrooms.

3. Staghorn fern (Platycerium grande)

Though immature staghorn ferns are usually sold in pots, when mature they need to be either mounted to a board or placed in a hanging basket. Why is this? They are like air plants, which means in a natural environment they grow on other plants or trees. be careful with the size though – as in warmer climes (i.e. semi-tropical) these ferns can grow to massive proportions – you don’t want the plant taking over a whole wall!

(picture via flowersfor everyone.com.au)

4. Maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedantum)

These are light and fluffy plants, and quite delicate as a result. They can be quite tempting to pets, having soft foliage, but they won’t stand up to much chewing either. But quite safe if they eat it.

5. Dwarf olive tree

Think Mediterranean, and it becomes obvious these will need lots of sunlight and to be kept quite dry. They therefore need quite good drainage to ensure they do well as indoor plants. It’s recommended you put them in a spot that gets at least six hours of full sun each day.

6. Rosemary

Quite a compact plant and of course a herb, so you could grow on your windowsill and take cuttings when you want to use it for cooing purposes. Might be fragrant enough to put some dogs off trying it as well, due to it’s distinctive small and flavor.

(picture via gardeningknowhow.com)

7. Ponytail palm

This palm is unusual looking, and can make a highly visual show piece within your home.

(picture via gardenia.net)

8. Echeveria

I personally am not a fan of this as a house plant, but everyone’s different and because it’s still a safe one for dogs, I’m including it here. They do best in well-drained soil, in a spot that gets the sun in the morning.

9. Orchid. Orchids are really common, and there are plenty of different varieties available. But be careful with the ones you choose! According to the ASPCA, phalaenopsis and dendrobium orchids (two of the most popular varieties) are nontoxic to cats and dogs.

10. Roses: Perhaps one of the most common plants around, you may or may not have indoor varieties, but even a bouquet is quite safe for your furry friends!

I hope you’ve found this useful – especially if you’re a lover of dogs and house plants at the same time! If you have any other suggestions of good plants to list, please share your information in the comments section below. I’d be happy to hear from you!

6 thoughts on “Indoor Plants that are Safe for your Dogs”

Thanks for the great article. As an owner of multiple pets, I found your post very informative. Do you know if the Ponytail Palm is safe for cats as well? We have both cats and dogs in our household and I’m always cautious of the plants I bring into our home.

Good article! Our pets our like children so of course we want to keep them safe. I too, do not posess a green thumb in fact i don’t even have a hint of green.But this has been a very informative read and should I consider trying my hand at owning plants I will be choosing a variety of the ones listed here. I have a chihuahua, who enjoys getting into things, but I love her and will do what I can to keep her safe.

Hi Kayla. Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment. I so agree with you that our dogs are like children. They can get up to mischief and sometimes eat things they shouldn’t! You made me laugh by saying you don’t have a green thumb either. Hello to your chihuahua:) Mara

I’m sure we’ve all seen and heard the horror stories of how dogs have eaten something by accident and suffered something serious. A big part of this is indoor plants which is why I’m glad you made this article:-). Your dog has beautiful eyes too.

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Hi everyone, my name is Mara and I love everything about dogs! I have been surrounded by dogs all my life and want to share my knowledge and experience with other dog owners. I hope you enjoy browsing this website, and you are welcome to get in touch any time.

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